Method and apparatus for forming piles



Oct. 18, 1932. G. L. SHERWOOD 1,883,010

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FILES Filed Nov. 7. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1932. G. L. SHERWOOD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING FILES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1927 Oct. 18, 1932. G. L. SHERWOOD usmon AND APPARATUS FOR omans FILES Z A5@r%0d 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 7; 1927 MEN 6727272 Q AW .the core. The core is Patented Oct. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLENN L. SHERWOOD, 01? 0 1: PARK, ILLINoIs, ASSIGNOR TO \VESTERN FOUNDATION COMIANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0E ILLINOIS METHOD ANDA PPA RATUS FOR FORMING FILES Application filed'November7, 1927. Serial No. 231,651.

This invention relates to improvements in the method and apparatus used in the formation of composite piles. In such a pile the lower portion is formed in whole or inpart of wood or metal so that it may be driven into the ground, while the upper portion consists principally of concrete which has to be cast in a previously prepared hole or shaft. This upper portion of the pile may be suitably reinforced in any manner. Pi es of this type are of particular utility where conditions are such that the lower section of the piles can be driven to apoint below water level or into an earth stratum which is permanently moist, while the upper section will extend into the air or through an earth stratum that may be dry at times. A woodor steel pile will remain intact so long as it is submerged in water or in a permanently wet soil. In the air or in soil intermittently wet or dry it will rot or corrode, whereas concrete pile will remain substantially unaffected by these conditions. Also, a pile which can be driven in part into the ground instead of being cast of concrete from bottom to top is advantageous from the point of View of economy.

The principal object of this invention is to so modify the method and apparatus heretofore in use for constructing such composite piles, that the super-structure necessary for supporting the driving means may be materially lowered or decreased in height. Heretofore, this superstructure has necessarily been of such a height that the driving means could be elevated above the exposed portion of the pile before it is driven, and the superposed core of mandrel which is employed for driving down the pile to the necessary distance beneath the surface of the ground so that the concrete section can be formed thereabove. According to this invention, the superstructure may be decreased in height by a distance substantially equalto the length of the core. Briefly stated, means are pro vided whereby the core may be temporarily supported out of driving means until the pile has been driven down a distance greater 'than the length of then interposed be- .are in positions corresponding the path of travel of the, entire process tween the driving means and pile and the driving operation is then completed.

Another obj eet is to provide means for interchangeably supporting the core from the driving means or from a portion of the staand for expeditloustionary superstructure, ly transferring the weight of the core from one of these supporting means to the other.

ther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following; detailed description of certain approved forms of apparatus designed for carrying out this new method.

In the accompanying drawings:

7 Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are diagrammatic views indlcatmg successlve steps in the improved process of forming the composite pile.

Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the driving and supporting apparatus, showing the core in driving position above the pile. The parts substantially to that step of the process illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed elevation showing the lower portion of the driving means and the upper section of the core. The

parts are in position for driving the pile by means of the core, corresponding substantially to Figs. 3 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showingthe core lifted from the pile and supported from the driving means. i

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing the core in process of being transferred from its support on the driving means to the temporary supporting means in the superstructure.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section, taken substantially on a plane as indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig.8. c

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken sub-.

stantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig.8, showing a modification. 4

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line i k-l t of Fig. 13.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the of completing the pile will first be briefly described, in order that the particular steps which form the improvements of this method may be more clearly understood.

The old method will first be described. A casing A, mounted about a core or mandrel B, is first driven into the ground by a driving means C which acts against the upper end of the core, this position of the parts being illustrated in Fig. 1. The core B is now removed from casing A by means of the driving means C from which it is suspended, and

these parts are raised to such a height that a pile D may be placed within casing A and the lower end of core B lowered into driving engagement with the upper end of the pile. The pile D is then driven down by driving means C acting through core D. Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the parts when the pile has been driven down almost to the ground level, and Fig. 4 shows the pile completely driven down so that its upper end is substantially at the bottom of the casing A. The core B is now elevated out of the casing and a shell E, and other reinforcing means if desired are lowered into the shell A and secured to the upper end of pile D. This stage of the process is illustrated in Fig. 5. Shell E is now filled with concrete, and the core B is placed upon the concrete filling G, and the casing A is pulled up about the core by means of block and tackle mechanism F carried by the driving means C. This stage of the process is indicated in 6. The completed pile consisting of the lower wooden section D and the upper concrete section G will remain in place. All of the other mechanism, including the casing A may be repeatedly utilized in the construction of other piles.

It will be noted that when the pile D is first placed in position within the casing A, before the driving operation is started, a considerable length of the pile will project above the ground. Upon this must be superposed the entire length of the core or mandrel B which is approximately as long as the casing A, and may be for example 35 or 40 feet in length. The driving means C must be elevated to such a height that it will be above the core B when in this position. This requires an excessively high superstructure for supporting and guiding the driving means C and its associated mechanism. Guiding devices must also be provided for the core B. According to the present invention, an auxiliary supporting mechanism H is provided in the supporting superstructure for temporarily carrying the core B at one side of and out of the path of travel of the driving means C, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The coreB is detachably suspended from the lower end of the driving means C, and after the casing A has been driven in place as shown in Fig. 1, the core B is drawn out and transferred to the temporary supporting means H. The pile D is then placed within the casing A, and the driving means G is lowered directly into engagement with the upper end of the pile D. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 2. The pile is now elevated as high as in the old process,

matically illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It

will be noted that by reason of this change in the process, the driving means C need not be and the supporting superstructure may be decreased in height by a distance substantially equal to the length of the core B.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 12 of the drawings, the frame or superstructure 1 may be of the usual type embodied in pile driving mechanism, except that its overall height may be considerably decreased as already noted. The runners 3 of the carriage 4 of driving means 0 are adapted to slide up and down along the guide rails 2, the driving means G being elevated or lowered by means of the usual hoisting cable mechanism indicated generally at 5. The driving means C comprises a hammer 6 reciprocating in suitable guides 7 the hammer 6 being connected by piston rod 8 with a piston 9 positioned in fluid these parts being suitably mounted in the car riage 4. The fluid pressure operated. hammer may be of any suitable type, and may be elevated by fluid pressure and allowed to drop under its own weight, or may be forced in both directions by fluid pressure acting alternately on the two sides of the piston 9.

The lower end of the carriage 4 comprises an annular collar 11 internally tapered at 12 to fit over the upper end of a collar 13 on the core B, or alternatively to fit over the upper end of one of the wooden piles D. The hammer 6 has a reduced lower driving end 14 adapted to project down through an opening 15 in collar 11 and impact against the upper end of the wooden pile or alternatively with a suitable cushion 16 positioned within collar 13 at the upper end of the core B. The cushion 16 may be formed of any suitable yielding material, and is designedto minimize injury to the metallic core B through the repeated impacts of the hammer 6.

The core B may be conveniently formed of a tubular metal section 17 reinforced by a head block 18 at its upper end, which carrie the collar 13 and cushion 16. A similar bloc-l: 19 at the lower end of the coreis adapted to fit over and have a driving engagement with the upper end of one of thepiles D. A pair of hooks 20, projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the head 18, are adapted to he engaged by links 21 carried by hooks 22 projecting from a lower portion of the carriage 4 of the driver C. By engaging'the links 9.1 {,7

with the hooks 20 the driver and core are held cylinder 10, all of. 1

' detachably in engagement with one another when in the driving position indicated in Figs. 7 8 and 11.

A pair of pins or studs 23 project from diametrically opposite sides of the head 18 at points spaced 90 circumferentially of the head from the hooks 20. These studs 23 are adapted to be engaged in the slots 24 of the hooks 25, which are pivotally suspended from stud shafts 26 mounted in the frame 4. The upper end of each hook 25 is longitudinally slotted at 27, the upper half 28 of the bearing which surrounds shaft 26 being slidable in this slot 27 against the action of a stiff compression spring 29 which bears at its other end against an adjustable bolt or other abutment 30. When the weight of the core B is suspended from the hooks 25, the springs 29 will be compressed until the bearing blocks 28 contact with the upper ends of the slotted portions 27 of the hooks, the weight being transferred through these blocks 28 to the pivot shafts 26. At such times, the latch or hook 31 formed on or secured to the hook 25, will be drawn down out of locking engagement with the plate or frame member 32 against which the intermediate portion of the hook 25 normally rests. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 9. When the weight of the core B is supported on the pile, and the carriage 4 has been moved down into engagement with the block 18 at the upper end of the core, the studs 23 will slide up within the slotted ends 24 of the hooks 25, and since these hooks are now relieved of the weight of the core the springs 29 will expand and pull up the hooks so that the latches 31 will engage with the plates 32 and prevent any laterally swinging movement of the hooks.

The auxiliary core-supporting means H comprises a link 33, pivoted at its upper end 34 on a suitable portion of the frame or super structure 1, and looped at its lower end 35 to engage with one of the hooks 20 on the head 18 of core B.

In the first operation, the core B is attached to the driving means C, as shown in Fig. 8, and the core is lowered into the casing A and the casing and core are driven down into place as indicated in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the lower portion of head 18 engages with the top of the casing A so that the casing may be driven down by the hammer 6 acting upon the head 18 through cushion 16. The links 21 are now released from the hooks 20, and the core B is now elevated by means of the hooks 25, as shown in Fig. 9.

t will be noted that the latches 31 are now unlocked from the plates 32 so that the hooks 25 are free to swing to one side. However, it

-- will be noted that the plates 32 are placed at a slight angle to the vertical so that the load supported by the hooks 25 will hold these hooks against the plates 32 so as to avoid any swinging movement of the suspended core B. The core is elevated until the head 18 is somewhat above the lower end of link 33, and this link 33 is then swung out so that its lower looped end 35 will engage with the adjacent hooks 20 (which it will be noted is now released from the link 21). The driving member C is now lowered and the weight of the core B will be gradually trans ferred to the link 33, the core swinging over to a position at one side of the path of travel of the driving means, as illustrated in Fig. 10. As the driving means C is further lowered, the studs 23 will pass out of the open upper ends of the slots 24, and the hooks 25 will fall back against the plates 32.

The pile D is now placed within the casing A, and the driving means C is lowered until the upper end of the pile D is received within the annular collar 11 at the lower end of the carriage 4. The hammer 6 is now operated in the usual manner to drive the pile D down into-the ground until it is substantially in the position shown in Fig. 3. Driving means C is now elevated to the the hooks 25 are swung out manually and reengaged with the studs 23. Continued elevation of the driving means C will pull over the core B until its weight is accepted by the driving means C and the link 33 is released from the hook 20. The driving means G with the suspended core B (in the positions shown in Fig. 9), are now lowered until the lower head 19 of the core rests upon the upper end of pile D. Immediately the hooks 25 are relieved of the weight of the core B, the springs 29 will draw up these hooks so as to engage the latches 31 with the plates 32 and prevent any lateral swinging movements of the hooks 25. The slots 24 will now serve to guide the studs 23 upwardly and prevent any lateral swinging movement of the core B, so that the tapered collar 23 at the upper end of the core will come into proper engagement with the tapered opening 12 in the collar 11' at the lower end of carriage 4. The links 21 are now reengaged with the hooks 20 and the apparatus is in position to drive the pile down through the casing A by means of the -115 interposed core B The core B is now withdrawn by again elevating the driving means C and the pile is completed by placing the shell or other reinforcement E within the casing A and fillingv the shell with concrete as already described.

Finally, the core B is lowered onto the concrete filling and the shell A is withdrawn by means of the hoisting mechanism F, which consists of a suitable block and tackle rigging conveniently supported at its upper end from the carriage 4 of the driver C, and provided with suitable means at the lower end for engagement with the exposed upper end of easing A,

proper height and The core B and shell A are now.

properly assembled (see Fig. 1) for driving into the ground to receive another pile D.

It will be understood that when in service between the pile D and the driving means C, the core B is not suspended from the driving means but rests upon the upper end of the pile, and in turn supports the frame 4 of the driving means so that as the pile and core or mandrel B are driven down by the hammer 6 the driving means as a unit will follow the core or mandrel downwardly, the supporting means 5 for the driving means being relaxed for this purpose. At such times, the links 21 do not act to support the core or mandrel D but merely serve to tie the core and driving means together, to prevent any material jumping action of the core. When the core is lifted from the pile, it is either suspended from the driving means by means of the hoops 25, or is temporarily supported from the frame 1 by means of links 33.

Another form of the means for supporting the core from the driving means is shown in l3 and Instead of the hoops 25 previously described, a pair of hooks 38 are suspended from looped cables 37 each of which is tied together intermediately as at 38 to provide a lower supporting link for hook 36 and an open upper loop 39 slidably engaged about a stud or shaft 40, corresponding to the shaft 26 previously described. The hooks 36 are adapted to be engaged with the looped. ends ll of a cable 42 secured through the head 18 of the core B, the loops or eyes ll corre sponding to the studs 23 previously described. When the hooks 36 are engaged with the eyes 21 and supporting the weight of the core B, the supporting cables 3'7 will be drawn down (as shown in 13) so that the upper ends of loops 39 are supported upon the shaft 40. This will extend th springs 43 which are secured au their lower ends to the upper ends of loops 39 and are anchored at their upper ends to a portion of the driver C. lVhen the hoops 36 are relieved of the weight of the core, the springs 43 will draw up the cables 37 until the lower ends of loops 39 engage the shaft l0, thus holding the hooks in vertical position ready to again receive the loops 41, similarly to the position of the parts of the first described modification as shown in 8. This modified means as shown in i 13 and 14 is somewhat simpler than the l c bed modification, and the operan if essentially the same in all respects.

An a}; paratus for. driving composite piles, comprising a supporting frame, a driving means, a core adapted for use between the driving means and the pile, means for sup porting the core from the driving means, and means for temporarily supporting the core at one side of the path of travel of the driving means whereby the driving means may engage guided for vertical movement,

ing means, a core adapted for use between th driving means and the pile, a swinging link pivoted on the frame, a swinging link pivoted on the driving means, and means adjacent the upper end of the. core adapted to be removably engaged with the respective links.

3. An apparatus for driving composite piles, comprising a supporting frame, a driving means, a core adapted for use between the driving means and the pile, a swinging link pivoted on the frame, a swinging link pivoted on the driving means, projections on the core adapted to be engaged by the respective links. and means for preventing swinging movement of the link on the driving means Wherthis link is not under load, this latter meanpermitting-the link to swing when the core is supported from the hook.

4. In an apparatus for driving composite piles, in combination, a driving means, a fixed supporting frame in which the driving means is guided for vertical travel, a mandrel formed at its lower and upper ends to rest upon a pile and support the driving means respectively, and means for interchangeably suspending the mandrel from the driving means or from the fixed suporting frame and for transferring the mandrel from one to the other of these supports.

In an apparatus for driving composite piles, in combination, a driving means comprising a vertically movable carriage and a reciprocating hammer mounted therein, a fixed supporting frame in which the carriage is guided for vertical movement, a mandrel formed at its lower and upper ends to rest upon a pile and support the carriage of the driving means respectively, and means for interchangeably suspending the mandrel from the driving means or from the fixed supporting frame.

6. In an apparatus for driving composite piles, in combination, a driving means comprising a vertically movable carriage and a reciprocating hammer mounted therein, a fixed supporting frame in which the carriage is a mandrel formed at its lower and upper ends to rest upon a pile and support the carriage of the driving means respectively, at which time the hammer is adapted to engage the upper end ofthe mandrel, and means for interchangeably suspending the mandrel from the carriage or from the fixed supporting frame and for transferring the mandrel from the carriage to the frame whereby the driving means can be lowered to permit the hammer to engage directly with the pile.

7 In an apparatus for driving composite piles, a carriage and a mandrel and means for suspending the mandrel from the carriage comprising a projection on the mandrel, a link pivotally mounted on the carriage adapted to detachably engage the projection, cooperating latch members on the link and carriage adapted to prevent swinging movement of the link, a shaft on the carriage, a looped port-ion at the upper end of the link surrounding the shaft, a slidable bearing member in the looped portion and'a spring holding the bearing member against the shaft, the spring yielding when the weight of the mandrel is carried by the link so that the link will be lowered and the latch members disengaged.

8. In an apparatus for driving composite piles, a carriage and a mandrel and means for suspending the mandrel from the car riage comprising a projection on the mandrel, a projection on the carriage, a hook adapted to engage the projection on the mandrel, means for supporting the hook comprising a member having an upper looped end adapted to engage about the projection on' the carriage with capacity for vertical sliding movement, and a spring'secured between the upper end of the loop and the carriage for elevating the hook when not in supporting engagement with the mandrel. 9. In an apparatus for driving piles, a carriage and a mandrel and means for suspending the mandrel from the carriage comprising an eye on the mandrel, a stud on the carriage, a hook adapted to engage the eye, a cable for supporting the hook and having an upper looped end slidably engaging about the stud, and a spring secured between the loop and a portion of the carriage for elevating the hook when not in supporting engagement with the mandrel.

10. An apparatus for driving composite piles, comprising a supporting frame, a driving means, a core adapted for use between the driving means and the pile, means for supporting the core from the driving means and means for supporting the core from the frame at one side of the path of travel of the driving means whereby the driving means may be engaged with the pile independently of the core, these two supporting means comprising swinging links on the driving means and frame adapted to be interchangeably engaged with the core whereby the core may be transferred from one supporting means to the other by raising and lowering the driving means and moving one or the other of the swinging links into engagement with the core.

GLENN L. SHERWOOD.

composite 

